Previous bids are amended by board

SIKESTON -- Despite the board of education amending previously awarded bids during Tuesday's regular meeting, construction on the Sikeston R-6 math and science center continues to progress on schedule.

During the March 7 meeting, the board originally awarded Hi-Tech with wiring and cable projects, which began in July. A price discrepancy was then discovered, and the board was asked on Tuesday to consider a price revision to allow the projects to continue. Hi-Tech was still the lowest bid, and the board approved amending the bid to be increased by $1,942.50.

The board also authorized changing the order of the flooring bid awarded in February to Miller Drywall to revise the floor pattern at the new math and science center.

"The specs called for a two-color flooring, and we looked at a darker tile. The architect thought we could do something with that," Sikeston R-6 superintendent Steve Borgsmiller explained.

The architect from Fleming Associates suggested adding a third color to put more design in the tile, which basically resulted in trading out tile for $670, Borgsmiller said.

"I think it would add to the building and would be a nice addition to the building," Borgsmiller said.

It was also approved by the board to amend the bid from Schneider Electric Co. by decreasing the contract by $416.

Meanwhile, Borgsmiller briefed the board on the status of the building's construction.

"Things are progressing along rather well. It's beyond my wildest imagination. It's something we should be extremely proud of," Borgsmiller said.

Workers should complete laying brick on the east wall by today and move to the entrance wall. Work is taking place this week to shorten the vertical steel channels to allow the installation of exterior insulation and finish system at the west entrance. Also workers will weld in braces between the bar joists and beams around the perimeter of the building.

The roof membrane over the metal deck on the building is complete and remaining work includes roofing the two towers at the entrance. The installation of the two skylights began Monday and will follow with the installation of the exterior windows.

Workers began setting roof-top units (HVAC) on the roof Monday, while others started hanging sprinkler pipe in classrooms and corridors last week. Conduit and junction boxes were installed at various locations in the building. Plumbing rough-ins for drinking fountains, sinks, etc. have been installed. At this rate, work could be completed as early as mid-December, Borgsmiller said.

The board accepted the retirements of Jim Groner and Michelle Manning and hired Tonya Pobst as a fifth grade instructor, Daniel Phelps as a drafting instructor for Sikeston Career and Technology Center and Tracy Gladden as a secondary math instructor.

The bid to purchase a new mini van for the trade-in of a 2003 Ford Windstar was awarded to Sikeston Motor Co., which was the low bidder over Morlan Dodge Inc. and Jarvis Motors. The district will purchase a 2006 Freestar for the trade-in price of $14,284.

Three bids for surplus textbooks were awarded to Follett for $17,372; Books Express for $1,245; and Textbook Exchange for $1,056.

Dr. Cindy Griffin, assistant superintendent of special services and elementary grades, provided the board with an update on the district's retention rate. All of the buildings with the exception of Middle School and BARC decreased. Both the Middle School and BARC rates increased in the seventh grade and rates increased in the eighth grade in BARC. However, the district's overall number of retainees decreased from 52 last year to 42 this year.

Dr. Larry Bohannon, assistant superintendent of secondary grades, delivered the student dropout date for 2005-2006. The district had 14 dropouts -- half of which were black and half were white students. Of those about half were male and half were female students.